$1 Billion Budget Funds Teacher Raises, Maintains Class Sizes

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The Fulton County School Board last week gave tentative approval to the school system's proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, making it the first official step toward raises for teachers and staff for the upcoming school year. The proposed budget focuses heavily on employee compensation to ensure that schools are "staffed with the most qualified teachers and support personnel," the system said.

A 2-percent raise is slated for employees paid on the teaching salary schedule and a 1-percent raise is slated for all other district staff. Eligible employees in the district also would receive a step increase as they transition to the new budget year. The budget also focuses on appropriately aligning funding to personnel and programs. The school board gave initial approval of the proposed budget at its May 18 meeting. Final approval is slated for June 13.

Sixty-eight percent of the $1 billion budget is devoted to instruction, with the remaining 32 percent budgeted for pupil transportation, maintenance and operations, and other administrative functions. The budget also keeps class sizes the same and does not include any staff reductions or furlough days for employees.

The tentatively approved pay increases continue the school system’s seventh year of providing some level of increased compensation to employees. The proposed budget also aims to keep the millage rate the same for the eighth consecutive year, maintaining the school board’s commitment to low property taxes. At 18.483 the combined millage rate would continue to be the lowest in the metro Atlanta area.

The budget also takes into consideration student growth for next year as well as the district’s increased employer-paid contributions to health insurance and the Teachers Retirement System. It also assumes a 6 percent increase in tax digest and a 2.3 percent increase in Quality Basic Education funds.

Here's a breakdown of the fiscal year 2018 budget:

• General Fund: $1,013,435,689
• School Nutrition Fund: 42,631,826
• Debt Service Fund: 12,132,721
• Special Revenue Fund: 51,729,563
• Capital Program Fund: 374,251,169
• Pension Fund: 34,081,245
• Student Activity Fund: 18,706,149
• Total All Funds: $1,546,968,363 (rounded)

You can dive deeper into Fulton County Schools' budget by clicking here.

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